There's no need to ever feel left out again at the water cooler conversation. Here's a rundown of the stories currently trending in the world, the country and your backyard.

Yahoo

Thousands in Iraq are fleeing in front of attacks by al-Qaeda-inspired militants. (AP)

Thousands flee: The situation in Iraq has grown worse as militants said to be inspired by al-Qaeda are rapidly moving south through the country toward Baghdad. U.S.-trained Iraqi troops are offering little resistance, and the militants are likely to be in the capital by Thursday or Friday. Full story: The Associated Press

Priest killed: A priest was killed and another critically wounded at a church in Phoenix Wednesday night. The priests at Mother of Mercy Mission Catholic Church were shot, according to police. A car stolen from the church was later found abandoned. Full story: azcentral.com

Cristina is Cat. 3: Hurricane Cristina, which formed off the west coast of Mexico Wednesday, has grown into a Category 3 storm with winds of nearly 120 mph. The National Hurricane Center believes the storm will weaken on Friday, however. There are no warnings posted in Mexico, as the storm is headed west. Thursday morning it was 240 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. Full story: The Associated Press

Google

Near nuclear disaster: A recently declassified report tells how close the United States came to a nuclear accident on American soil that would have surpassed the devastation caused by the Hiroshima bomb. Two nuclear bombs fell on North Carolina on January 24, 1961 when a U.S. Air Force plane carrying the munitions broke in half during flight. The bombs did not detonate because they were damaged by the force at which the airplane broke apart. The bombs landed near Greensboro, N.C. Full story: CNN

It's been 20 years: Twenty years ago today the bodies of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were found outside of Simpson's Los Angeles home. The two had been brutally murdered. Within hours, Nicole's ex-husband, football star O.J. Simpson became a suspect. Within days, the world would watch as Simpson and friend Al Cowlings lead police on a low-speed chase over L.A. freeways before surrendering. Simpson would stand trial for the murders. In October of 1995, he would be found not guilty. Full story: Sports Illustrated

The other football: The World Cup starts today in Brazil and goes through July 13. The quadrennial soccer tournament features 32 nations playing 64 games. Full story: ESPN